Earthquake in the Middle East

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 on the border between Iran and Iraq killed at least 207 people and wounded more than 1,500 in the two countries. The hardest-hit city was Kermansha. Many cities are without electricity and more than 70 thousand people are in need of emergency sheltering. There were landslides near the Darbandikahn dam, but so far, the extent of damage is unknown. Urgent evacuation of the population living in areas near the dam has been ordered.

Drone Closes Airport in SP

Drones have become increasingly common in first-world countries and news about them is usually associated with breakthrough technology and the improvements they bring to people’s lives, but you don’t hear about them that much in Brazil. One did show up yesterday in São Paulo, but the headlines sounded all-too-familiar. Arrivals were re-routed, flights were canceled and hundreds of passengers lost their connections at Congonhas Airport, in the south side of the city, because of an unmanned aircraft. The terminal was closed for over two hours last night, between 8:15 and 10:40. The police used their Eagle helicopter to try and locate it, while the federal police conducted ground searches – all to no avail.

Sound Familiar?

Chris Gorman, an employee for Whitefish, a small energy business from Montana, U.S., was paid $63 an hour for working on a transmission line to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s dilapidated power grid. The Puerto Rican public power company, known as Prepa, was billed $319 an hour, a rate far above the norm, even for emergency work – and almost 17 times the average salary of Puerto Rican workers in the sector. Questions about the company’s $300 million contract have led to its cancellation.

Have You Seen This Man?

Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, is missing after a trip to Saudi Arabia last week, and speculation is building that the kingdom could be holding him hostage. This has increased anxieties about a possible military conflict in Lebanon. The impulsive young Saudi crown prince has had more than 200 royal relatives and businessmen arrested to consolidate power and then escalated a showdown with Iran that threatens millions of people in Yemen with starvation. Rumor has it that the Saudis had asked Israel to attack Lebanon. Several countries are urging their citizens to leave Lebanon.

Brazilian National Soccer Championship

Corinthians increased their lead over second-placed Grêmio to ten points yesterday, practically clinching the national soccer championship. Santos will play tonight, and if winning, will replace Grêmio in the second position, with 9 points behind the leader.